Explore Sideways

Name

Explore Sideways

Legal name

Explore Sideways

Website

https://exploresideways.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Explore Sideways is a Cape Town-based boutique travel designer that creates bespoke luxury itineraries in South Africa for high-net-worth individuals, enterprise groups, and travel agents across wine, wellness, wilderness, arts, and culture themes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Travel Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Tour Operators (56152)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Group & Small-Group Custom Itinerary Planning (THAKAOAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Adventure & Expedition Experiences (Custom Hikes, Safaris, Backcountry) (THAJALAG), Multi-Activity & Expedition Packages (Guided Adventure Trips) (THAJABAL), Private Wellness & Retreat Experiences (Personalized Spa, Yoga, Healing) (THAJALAI), Culinary Walking & Market Tours (THAJAGAA)

Keywords

• Luxury travel experiences
• Bespoke travel design
• Wine tourism
• Safari adventures
• Cultural immersion travel

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Town

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tour Booking Service Fees: Explore Sideways acts as an intermediary booking service, collecting payments from guests on behalf of third-party tour operators. The displayed price includes the operator's fee plus Explore Sideways' service fee. The company serves as the operator's payment collection agent, with payment to Explore Sideways considered equivalent to direct payment to the operator.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Explore Sideways designs and coordinates bespoke private luxury travel experiences in South Africa across wine, wellness, wilderness, and cultural themes. Customers submit detailed enquiries through the website specifying interests, dates, group size, and budget, after which the company curates custom itineraries and collects payment on behalf of third-party tour operators.

Product overview

Explore Sideways is a luxury travel experience designer offering bespoke private travel experiences in South Africa. The core offering is the Curated Experiences portfolio, which includes named products such as African Contemporary Art Week, Architect's Field Notes, and Bucket List with a Twist. These experiences are available as pre-packaged options or can be customized to client specifications. The company also provides a downloadable Product Collection catalog organizing experiences into categories: Bucket List, Food & Wine, Art & Culture, Wildlife & Adventure, Wellness & Retreats, and Responsible Tourism.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Curated Experiences Bespoke private luxury travel experiences in South Africa covering wine, wellness, wilderness, and cultural themes, tailored to each client's interests, pace, and preferences. Designed for discerning individual travelers seeking meaningful, off-the-beaten-path experiences.
• African Contemporary Art Week A 7-day curated art immersion experience in Cape Town and Stellenbosch featuring private gallery visits, studio sessions with artists, collector dinners, and access to events like the Zeitz MOCAA Gala. Designed for art collectors, cultural enthusiasts, and executive groups.
• Architect's Field Notes An educational journey through South Africa designed for architectural societies, featuring visits to heritage sites, modern architectural projects including Kliphuis, Green School South Africa, Zeitz MOCAA, and Bosjes Chapel, with engagements with respected architects.
• Bucket List with a Twist A customized Cape Peninsula experience featuring luxury activities such as scenic helicopter flights, foraging adventures at Cape Point, nature exploration, and kayaking with African penguins at Boulders Beach. Designed for families and small private groups.

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Abercrombie & KentcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremier luxury travel company included in Explore Sideways' 'trusted by industry leaders' section. Abercrombie & Kent is a globally recognized luxury tour operator, and their endorsement signals Explore Sideways' positioning within the premium travel ecosystem.
• &BeyondcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRenowned African safari and conservation company featured as an industry partner. Their inclusion in the trusted network suggests mutual referral relationships for luxury travel experiences in South Africa.
• Go2AfricacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialist Africa travel company listed as an industry partner. As a dedicated Africa travel operator, they likely refer clients seeking bespoke South African experiences to Explore Sideways.
• Giltedge TravelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLuxury travel company included in the trusted partner network. Their association indicates a referral or collaborative relationship within the premium travel distribution channel.
• Royal African DiscoveriescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAfrican travel specialist featured as an industry partner. Their endorsement suggests a network relationship for directing clients to specialized experiences.
• CardinalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLuxury travel company listed among trusted industry partners. Inclusion suggests mutual referral or collaborative booking arrangements.
• DM AfricacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAfrica-focused destination management company featured as an industry partner, indicating a network relationship within the African luxury travel sector.
• Zeitz MOCAA (Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive partnership for VIP events including private cocktail receptions at 21 Nettleton residence in collaboration with Zeitz MOCAA. Guests attended the annual Zeitz MOCAA Gala, a highlight on Africa's cultural calendar. This partnership provides unique access to exclusive cultural events not available to standard tourists.
• !Khwa ttu San Heritage CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning cultural heritage site used as a destination in the Architect's Field Notes experience. Partnership provides access to ecologically sensitive architectural storytelling experiences.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• &Beyond: Luxury African safari and experiential travel operator with curated high-end itineraries across multiple African countries. Directly comparable to Explore Sideways in target customer (HNW travelers), bespoke service model, and African experiential focus, though &Beyond also owns lodge properties and operates at significantly larger scale.
• Go2Africa: Specialist Africa travel company designing bespoke African itineraries for international clients. Overlaps with Explore Sideways on South Africa luxury custom trips, shared B2B agent channel, and curated-experience positioning in the HNW segment.
• Giltedge Travel: South Africa-based luxury travel specialist curating high-end African safaris and experiences. Closely comparable to Explore Sideways on destination geography, premium customer segment, and bespoke itinerary design.
• Royal African Discoveries: African-focused luxury travel designer offering custom safaris and cultural journeys. Comparable on bespoke African itinerary design, premium customer base, and DMC-style operational model.
• Jacada Travel: Bespoke luxury travel company curating private, design-led itineraries worldwide. Comparable on enquiry-led model, premium per-ticket pricing, and focus on exclusive access and specialist guides.
• Black Tomato: Bespoke luxury travel brand known for 'Jet Set' and curated experiential journeys. Directly comparable on bespoke private itineraries, HNW target customer, and access-driven product design.
• Scott Dunn: Luxury tour operator specializing in tailor-made private journeys, family experiences, and high-end safaris. Comparable on luxury bespoke positioning, premium customer base, and safari/cultural itinerary expertise.
• Red Savannah: UK-based luxury travel company offering tailor-made experiential journeys to Africa and beyond. Closely comparable on bespoke enquiry model, premium positioning, and curated access-led itineraries.
• Wilderness Safaris: Premier African safari operator with curated wildlife and cultural journeys across southern and eastern Africa. Comparable on African experiential focus and HNW customer base, though Wilderness also owns extensive camp/lodge inventory.

Broad incumbents

• Abercrombie & Kent: Globally established luxury tour operator offering private journeys across 100+ countries including Africa. Larger and broader portfolio than Explore Sideways, but directly competes for the same HNW traveler seeking premium African experiences — also currently a referral partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/exploresideways
• Xx.com/exploresideways
• Facebookfacebook.com/exploresideways
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/explore-sideways

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Explore Sideways